Hydraulic variable-speed-transmission device.



E. GIARLO. HYDRAULIC VARIABLE SPEED TRANSMISSION DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 3, 1913. 1 1 1,994, Patentgd Sept. 29, 1914.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1'.

E. OIARLO; HYDRAULIC VARIABLE SPEED TRANSMISSION DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 3, 1913.

' Patented Sept. 29, 1914.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

' I flbtomwi o E. OIARLO. HYDRAULIC VARIABLE SPEED TRANSMISSION DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY "3, 191a.

-Patented Sept. 29, 191i 51% M 92% I; :a E

Queuing 6 I E. OIARLO. HYDRAULIC VARIABLE SPEED TRANSMISSION DEVICE.

APPLIOATION FILED JULY 3,1913. L 1 1 1,994.

Patented Sept. 29, 1914.

HEETS-BHEET 4'.

' mines i;

To all win m it may concern:

- his speed and reversing mechanism capable ing shaft of the vehicle. H V

' Another object of the inventlon is to pro- .transmitting the power from an internal combustion en One of theo oil is automatically is adapted to I r sen canteen severaiamnrmnm; mnsvrivmm. nimnmc vnnmem-srmnimusmssmn zmvrem Specimtioncflme'n'hhnt. Application filed m 3,1913: striai n o'.

Paeenbea'se e. 29, 1914. M392.

Be it known that I, ESTEBAN 0141210, a citizen of Argentina and resident of South Bethlehem, county of Northampton, and State of Pennsylvania, have invented cer tain new and useful Improvements in Hydraulic Variable Speed Transmission Devices, ofwhich the following is a specificati-on.

This invention relates to hydraulic varia of various applications in the arts and especially valuable in motor vehicles for ine to the driving. axle.

jects of the invention is to produce an improved;- mechanism of this g character in which the us 'pump and mo- 3 tor employed are normally inoperative, the i power' nnder such conditions .bei trans-j mitted directly from the engine to e drivvide a mechanism ct this hind of the ,utv most fiexibilit and ca able of very close; regulation an in Whic a1 of the parts" are practicaliy'suhmerged' in oil-finder all conditions, so that Wear Wilibe to a large j extent, eliminated. Q Another object of the invention isto provide a mechanism of this character in which supplied to the pas sages connecting the piunp and motor c311 inders, in order to make up for any loss dueto leakage. I

Another object cfthe invention is to pro vide a medianism of this character which act as a brake for the vehicle. Other objects are to provide an improved mechanism of this character which is com-' parativeiy simpie in construction, compact, and which is capahie being" rnanuzfac tured commercially at a reasonable cost. The novel ieatures of the inventien'Wiii he hereinafter described; in connection with the accompanying draw which iiins trate What i new censider to he the prev fer-red embodiment of inventi-en, it being nn'dersteod that the details can he changed in varieus ways Without depart ing from the snirit ef in; inventinn as de-. fined in the c: i s.

"in the cm .s, Figure is aside eievation of driving mechanism as applied; to a motor vehieie, the 1 ts. being shown 1 boits2 The castings more or less diagrammatieaiiy; Fig. 2 is a,

lonfitudinal section through my improved anec an s'm; Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3 '3' of 2; Fig. 4 is a transverse sect onon the line 4- of Fig. 2; Fig. 5 is detail section on the line gis a detail section on fi'eferri to Fig. 1 indicates an internal corn ustion engine of any preferred type, It being understood, however, that any other s'iu'table ma used inplace of this engine. The jpe of prime mover to be used is usually determined by the app'aratuslto which the Invention is to e applied and'I have shown is efn'i'ventioii in connection with an internalc'qmbustion enginebecause it. is at presexit, the ractice to provide motor vehi'cie's with Sue engines The motor 10 has'lhefusilal fiy'whee'l 1.1 and the shaft 12 which ext'exidsto' the variable speed transmissioii'and reversingmechanism A. The

driven" member of the transmission -mechan'ism A is eperatively connected with an snitahle type of diiferential gearing B which may be located on the driving axle of the vehicle'oron' a jack shaft. The detail constriiction ofthejdifierential gearing Iorms no giant of the resent invention and therefore 1" have 015v indicated the same" diagrammatically on the drawings.

v ferring-novv to Figs. 2 to 6, it will be seen that in mv, improved transmission mechanism the driving shaft 12 and the jdrivenfsh-aft 13 are in axial alinement and extend into'a' closed casing 14: adapted to form of prime mover 'contain'oil. Suitable stufiing boxes 15 and 1J5 are provided Where through the walis of the casing, in order to ipneve'lit leak of the oil along these shafts. Thedriving s aft, 12 has arranged thereon the ball bearings 17 and 18,which rotatab1y support the casting 19, this casting having formed therein driven shaft 13 carries the ball bearings 21 'a'nd22' on which a- 23 is rotatably .m'oiinted. The-casting 23 has formed therein the motor cylinders 24 and the adjoining faces of the castings 19 and 23 are finished ,teforiii the joint 25, the castings being rigidlyseciired together by means of suitable v 19 and 23 thus consti-tnte acasing whi is provided with the plimp'and motor cylinders and which is retatable as .awhoie on the driving and driven fshafts 12 and 13. Each of the cylinders 20 the shafts pass the pump cylinders 20.- The has arranged thereina piston 27 and these 'verse shifting of the wedge blocks 33 efiects the shifting of the eccentric 29. The member 31 isconnected with a collar 34: slidable on the shaft 12, this collar being moved by a lever 35 of any suitable construction and adapted to be actuated from theexterior of the casing 14;. For this purpose I have in dicated a control lever 36. The inner end of the wedge member 31 is provided with teeth or claws 37 which are adapted to engage corresponding recesses 38 in the driven.

shaft 13 and thus form a direct driving connection between the driving and driven shafts when the wedge member is moved inwardly to the extreme position. The driven shaft 13 has formed thereon an eccentric 39 and the pistons e0 in the cylinders 2a are operatively connected with the eccentric 39 by means of the rods 41, so that the shaft 13 will be rotated by means of'the pistons 40. The casting 23 has formed thereon the tread or wheel 42 for a brake band 43, the latter being actuated from the exterior of the casing by a lever 44 on a shaft 45. The ends of the brake band carry cams 46 with which cams '47 onthe shaft coiiperate-to contract or release the ends of the brake band when the lever'M is rocked. It will be obvious from the drawings that when the brake band 13 is contracted the castings 19" and 23 will be held against rotation. Each of the pump cylinders 20 has arranged ad jacent thereto a valve chamber 48 in which is arranged a "valve 19,- the valve chamber being connected with the cylinder by a suitable port or branch 50: The adjoining faces of the castings 19 and 23 are provided with concentric registering grooves which form the passages 51 and 52, branches leading from these passages to all of the valve chambers 48. Each of the motor cylinders 24 has arranged adjacent thereto a vaive c chamber 58 in which is a valve 5% these chambers being connected with the cylinders by ports or branches 55. The valve chamhers 53 are also connected with passages 51 and 52 bysuitable ports or branches. The valves 49 and 54; may be actuated. by any suitable mechanism and for this purpose I have provided on the end of the driving shaft 12 a cam 56 having a groove 57 in which is'arranged oneend of the pins 58 these pins being connected with valves 13- is similarly provided with a 49. The groove 57 is suitably formed to actuate the valves 4.9 in their proper sequence to admit and discharge the fluid from the cylinders 20. The driven shaft late 59 having a groove 60 in which the on s of the pins 61 are arranged, these pins being connected with the valves 54. By this construction the pump valves 49 are independently actuated by the driving shaft 12 and the motor valves 54 are independently actuated by the driven shaft 13 and the parts are so arranged that the fluid discharged by the pump cylinders will be admitted to the motor cylinders at the proper time to effect the rotation of the shaft 13. The stroke of the motor pistons 40 is fixed, whereas the stroke of the pump pistons 27 is variable from'zero to a maximum in either direction so that the rotation of the shaft 12, can be made to effect any desired speed of rotation of the shaft 13 from zero to a maximum in either direction, the maximum preferably being the speed of the driving shaft 12. The wedge member 31 is shown in the neutral or central position in Fig. 2 and in this position no reciprocation is given to the pistons 27 but when the we ge member is moved in either direction from its central position the pistons 27 will be reciprocated and the direction of reciprocation will depend upon the direction in which the wedge member is moved, the shaft 12 always rotating in the same direction. Two of the valves which control the flow of fluid to the cylinders are preferably provided with longitudinal bores 62 and the bore in one of the valves preferabl communicates with the passage 51 and t c bore in the other valve communicates with the passage 52. Art the outer end of each of these valves there is a plug 63 having an axial port 64: and a seat fora check valve 65. The valve 65 isheld against the seat by a-spring 66. It will be obvious that the arra-ngementof the valve 65 is such that the reciprocation of the valves 5% causes the latter to act as pumps to supply oil from the interior of the casing 14 to the passages 51 and 52 and thus make up for any loss 3 due to leakage from the system.

When it is desired to use the transmission mechanism as a brake the wedge member 31 is moved to a position where the pistons 27 will be practically idle and the shaft 13 being driven by the vehicle will cause the motor cylinders 2 1 to act as pump cylinders and pump the fluid into one of the passages 51 or 52, so that one of these passages will carry a high pressure while the other passage will have a low pressure therein and supply fluid to the cylinders 2 1- when the pistons move inwardly. In order to bypass the fluid from one of these passages to the other, under these conditions, I provide the inmatports 67 and 68.. The lay-pass 67 has arranged therein a relief valve .69 which is normally held against its seat by a spring 7.0. Thls valve permits tluid to flow from the passage .52 to the passage 51 but as will be readily understood from the drawin prevents flow from the passage 51 to e passage 52. Theport 68 is provided with a similar valve 71 which is adapted to permit the fluid to flow from the passegem .to f the passage :52 and to prevent flow in the reverse direction. With this-construction and i i with the eccentric 29 in the neutral position where no motion is transmitted to the pis tons 2!? the cylinders 24: will act as pumps? when the pistons are driven by the vehif 01s or other driven mechanism and the fluid will be discharged from the cylinders 24; against the pressure with which the valves 69 and 71 are held on their seats so that the. motor will, under these conditions, act as a 1 brake .to retard the motion of the vehicle ,or other driven mechanism. Referring to F 1, it will he observed. that the lever 36 or shifting the eccentric 29 is connected with a hand lever 72 by means of a link 73, the lever 72 being .located in a position'where it may be con- 11 veniently handled by the operator offthef vehicle. The lever 44 for actuating the brake 43 may be connected with a pedal lever 74 by means of a link so that the brake can be convenientlymani ulated by the foot I of the operator of the ve icle. y In the operation of the system the brake band 453 is contracted on the wheel 42 and thus holds the casings 19 and 23 against roj tation. The driving shaft 12 being operated continuously in the same direction, power may be transmitted to the driven shaft 13 by shifting the wedge member 31-so as to throw the eccentric 29 0d the neutral posi- .tion, thus operating the pump pistons 27.? The speed of the shaft 13 will depend upon the stroke of the pistons 27 and the direc tion of rotation of the shaft l3 will depend upon the direction the eccentric 29 is shifted from the neutral position. The parts are so arranged that when the wedge member 31' is shifted toward the left in Fig. 2' the shaft 13 will rotate in the same direction as the driving shaft 12. Under these conditions the claws 87 may be moved into engagement with the recesses 38 when the speed of the; shaft 13 is substantially the same as the speed of the shaft 12 and this occurs just before the parts are-moved into engagement. There will thus he a driving connection between the shaft 12 and the shaft 13 and it will not be necessary to operate the ump and motor pistons. {By releasing the brake band 4:3 the casings 19 and 23 will be permitted to rotate with. the shafts i2 and 13 and the pistons 2? and 40 will be idle and to there will be no wear of the parts of the motor and pump although power ie'being transmitted from the shaft 12 to .the shaft 1.3. contracting thejhrake band 43 the casing-s 19 and 23, may he stopped and the pinup and motor pistons again operated in the usual way. I v y e It will thus lee-seen that I have provided a system .of great flexibility in which, when the cylinders are held by the brake, the pistons may be operated by the driving shaft, and in which, when the drivin and driven shafts are coupled together, t e cylinders are rotatable with the driving shaft, when the brake is released, and may be rotated by the driven shaft'independently of the driving shaft. Since, in. the normal operation of a. motor vehicle, the power will be generallytransmitted directly from the shaft .12 to the shaft 13 and the speed controlled by varying the supply. of energy to the prime mover which operates the shaftl2, the wear in the transmission mechanism will be greatly reduced and the life of the same proportionately increased. The invention is also valuable as ameans for retarding the vehicle ,when the latter 7 is coasting". With .the vehicle coasting the engine or prime movermay be allowed to run slowly and the adjustable eccentric set to zero.I With the .parts in this positionand the cylinders fpreu vented from revolving by the brake 43, uid will be pumped by the motor pistons and discharged underfl ,.pressure through the by- .p'ass, thus loading the driven shaft, which is driven by the vehicle itself under such conditions, and providing a brake which will retard the motion-of the" vehicle. The

eccentric may be adjustedwhile the parts are in motion to vary the amount of resistance :and by partially or whollyv releasing the brake 43 the braking effect may be changed. When the adjustable eccentric is atthe zero or neutral position the pump cylinders and pistons may revolve dependent of the drivingjsha'ft.

Having describedmy invention what I claim and desire to. secure by Letters-Pat-' ent is, y

1. In a hydraulic mechanism of the class described, the combination of a driving member, a pump having pistons, operatively connected with said driving member, and r0- tatably mounted. cylinders, means for adjusting the connection between the pistons and the driving member while the parts are in'motion, the parts being so constructed and arranged that the pistons may be operated by the driving member or the cylinders revolved with theydriving member or independently thereof, a motor operated by the fluid delivered by said pump, and a driven member operated by said motor. a

i 2. In a hydraulic mechanism of the class described, the combination of a driving member, a'-'pump having pistons, operatively entirely inice ated by the driving member or the cylinders connected with said driving member, and rotatably mounted cylinders, means for adjusting the connection between the pistons and the driving member while the parts are in motion, the parts being so constructed and arranged that'the pistons may be operrevolved with the driving member or independently thereof, a motor operated by the fluid delivered by said pump and rotatable as a whole with the driving member, and a pendently thereof, a motor having cylinders in motion, the parts being so constructed and arranged that the-pistons may be operated by the driving member or the cylinders revolved with the driving member orindependently thereof, a motor operated the fluid delivered by said pump, andhaving cylinders rotatable with'the pump cylinders, and a driven member operatedby said motor. a

4. In a hydraulic-mechanism of the class described, the combination of a driving .member, a pump having pistons operatively connected with said driving member, and r0- tatably mounted cylinders, means for ad-.

justing the connection between the pistons and the driving member while the parts are, motion, the parts being so constructed.

and arranged that the pistons may be operated by the driving member or the cylinders revolved with the driving member or inderigidly secured to said pump cylinders, and pistons adapted to be operated by the fluid delivered by said pump, and a driven member operatively connected with said motor 45,

pistons.-

5. In a hydraulic mechanism of the class described, the combination of a driving member, a driven member in axial alinement therewith, a casing rotatably mounted with respect to the driving and driven members and having pump and motor cylinders therein, pistons in said cylinders, means operatively connecting the pump pistons with the driving member, means operatively connecting the motor pistons with the driven member, means for holding said casing' against rotation, and a'clutch for directly connecting'the driving and driven members.

6. In a hydraulic mechanism of the class described, the combination of driving member, a driven member, a casing rotatably mounted with respect to the driving and driven members and having pump and motor cylinders therein, pistons in said cylinders, means operatively ecnnecting said hers. I

pump pistons with the driving member, means operatively connectin the niotor pistons with the driven mem er, means for holding said casing against rotation, and means for formin a direct drivingconnecltoion between the driving and driven memers.

7 In a hydraulic mechanism of the class described, the combination of an outer casing, a driving member extending into said casing, a driven member extendin into said casing in axial alinement with the driving member, a member rotatably mounted with respect to said driving and driven members and having pump and motor cylinders therein, pistons in said cylinders, means operatively connecting the pump pistons with the driving member, means operatively connecting the motor pistons with the driven member, a brake carried by said outer casing and surrounding said member and adapted to hold the latter against rotation, and means for forming a direct driving connection between the driving and driven mem- 8. In a hydraulic mechanism of the class described the combination of an outer casing, a driving member, extending into said casing, a driven member extending into said casing in axial alinement with the driving member, a member rotatably' mounted with respect to said driving and driven members in, pistons in said cylinder, means 0 eratively connecting the pump pistons wit the driving member, means operatively connecting the motor pistons with the driven memher, a brake carried by said outer casing and surrounding said member and adapted to hold the latter against rotation, means for forming a direct driving connection between the driving and driven members, and means 7 to permit said memfor releasing said brake her to rotate. p

9. In a hydraulic mechanism of the class described, the combination of an outer casing, a driving member extending into said casing, a driven member extending into said casing in axial alinement with the driving member, a member rotatably mounted on said driving and driven members and having therein pump and motor cylinders, pistons in said cylinders, means operatively connecting the pump pistons with the driving member, means operatively connecting the motor pistons with the driven member, independently actuated valve mechanisms for controlling the fiow of fluid to and from said cylinders, a brake carried by the outer casing and adapted to hold said member against rotation, means for forming a direct driving connection between the driving and driven members, and means for controlling said brake to release or stop said member.

10. In a hydraulic mechanism of the class and havingpump and motor cylinders theredescribed, the combination of a driving member, a driven member in axial alinement therewith, a casing rotatably mounted on said driving and driven members and having pump and motor cylinders therein, pistons insaid cylinders, means operatively connecting the pump pistons with the driving member, means for varying the stroke of the pump pistons, means operatively connecting the motor pistons with the driven member, a brake adapted to hold said casing against rotation, and means for forming a direct driving connection between the driving and driven members.

11. In a hydraulic mechanism of the class described, the combination of a driving member, a casing rotatably mounted on the driving member and having pump cylindersformed therein, a driven member, a caslng rotatably mounted on said driven member and having motor cylinders therein, pistons in said cylinders, means operatively connecting said pump pistons with said driving member, means for varying and reversing the stroke of the pump pistons,

means operatively connecting the motor pistons with the driven. member, means securlng said casings together, and a brake adapted to hold said casings against rota-- tion.

12; In a hydraulic mechanism of the class described, the combination of a driving member, a driven member, a member rotatably mounted concentric to said driving and driven members and having therein pump and motor cylinders, pistons in said cylinders, means for operatively connecting the pump pistons with the driving member, means for varying the stroke and for reversing the pump pistons, means operatively connecting the motor pistons with said driven member, valve means for controlling the flow of fluid to and from said cylinders, a pair of separate ports common to said valve means, and a valve controlled by-pass adapted to connect said ports.

13. In a hydraulic mechanism of the class described, the combination of a driving memher, a driven member, a member rotatably mounted concentric tosaid driving and driven members and having therein pump and motor cylinders, pistons in said cylinders, means for operatively connecting the pump pistons with the driving member, means for varying the stroke and for reversing the pump pistons, means operatively connecting the motor pistons with said driven member, valve means for controlling the flow of fluid to and from said cylinders, a pair of separate ports common to said valve means, and separate valve controlled bypasses adapted to permit the fluid to flow from either of saidports to the other.

14. In a hydraulic mechanism of the class described, the combination of a driving member, a driven member, -a member rotatably mounted with respect to said driving and driven members and having pump and motor cylinders therein, pistons in said cylinders, means opera-tively connecting the pump Frstons' with the driving member, means or varying the stroke of and for reversing the pump pistons, means operatively connecting the motor pistons with said driven member, valve means for controlling the flow of fluid to and from said cylinders, a pair of separate ports communicating with said valve means, a plurality of by-passes for connecting said ports, and spring pressed relief valves for controlling the flow of fluid through said by-passes, said relief valves being also adapted to act as checks to prevent back flow of the fluid.

15. In a hydraulic mechanism of the class described, the combination of a driving member, a driven member, a pump operated by the driving member, a motor for operat ing the driven member, reciprocating valves for controllin the flow of fluid to and from the pump an motor, one of said valves being provided with a port and a check valve whereby it acts as a to said mechanism from the exterior.

16. In a hydraulic mechanism of the class described, the combination of an outer casing adapted to contain a fluid, driving and driven members extending into said casing in axial alinement, a member rotatably mounted on said driving and driven members and having pump and motor cylinders therein, ports connecting said cylinders, re-

pump to supply fluid ciprocating valves for controlling the flow through said ports, and means whereby one of said valves acts as a pump to supply fluid from said casing to said ports.

17. In a hydraulic mechanism of the class described, the combination of an outer cas-' ing adapted to contain fluid, driving and driven members extending into said casing in axial alinement, a member rotatably mounted on said driving and driven members and having pump and motor cylinders therein, a plurality of passages formed in said member and having branches leading to said cylinders, reciprocating valves for controlling the flow of fluid through said branches to and from said assages, and means carried by certain 0 said valves whereby these valves act as pumps to supply fluid from said casing to said passages. A

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ESTEBAN CIARLO.

. Witnesses: JAB. P. MADDEN, FRANK A. SULLIVAN.- 

